Unemployment in Mason County continues decline

MASON COUNTY — Mason County’s unemployment rate continues to decline, at least according to the latest statistics.

Mason County’s employment rate for April was 7 percent, down from March’s 8.2 percent, which was down from February’s 10.7 percent and January’s 10.9 percent.

This meant Mason County was in 19th place when it came to unemployment rankings within the state’s 55 counties. Counties in the top five for unemployment rates were Marion with 9.6 percent, Webster with 10.4 percent, Wetzel with 10.7 percent, Mingo with 11.3 percent and Pocahontas with 12 percent unemployment.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Monongalia at 3.8 percent unemployment and Pendleton with 4 percent unemployment.

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly to 6 percent in April 2014. The number of unemployed state residents fell 100 to 48,400. Total unemployment was down 3,600 over the year. The national unemployment rate fell four-tenths of a percentage point to 6.3 in April.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased 2,200 in April, the gain entirely in the service-providing sector. Within the goods-producing sector, mining and logging gained 300 jobs, construction lost 700 jobs, and manufacturing gained 400 over the month. Within the service-providing sector, employment gains included 100 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 1,000 in professional and business services, 500 in educational and health services, 100 in leisure and hospitality, and 700 in government.

Employment declines included 100 in information and 100 in financial activities. Employment in other services was unchanged. Since April 2013, total nonfarm payroll employment has increased 6,400, with a decline of 1,200 in the goods-producing sector countering a gain of 7,600 in the service-providing sector. Employment gains included 300 in mining and logging, 100 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 300 in information, 1,600 in financial activities, 3,500 in professional and business services, 800 in educational and health services, 400 in leisure and hospitality, and 1,200 in government.

Employment declines included 1,300 in construction, 200 in manufacturing, and 300 in other services. West Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.9 percent to 6.1 percent in April. Unemployment rates decreased in all but two of the 55 counties in the state.